[aklug] Re: Basic Linux information

On Wed, 16 Sep 2009, Marc Grober wrote:

> But Arthur, I agree with you almost entirely! And have sat kids down
> with pieces-lol. The point I was trying to make vis-a-vis the netbooks
> is just as you noted, it is our learned prejudices that guide our
> behavior, and the path to wider usage of Linux (as opposed to broader
> technological know how) is to put the product in play as it were.

Linux is increasingly being used everywhere without anyone actually knowing
so do we need the desktop? I don't believe so, because the desktop market
is generally worthless in providing the kind of people that are actually
driving Linux adoption. The true hackers are working in embedded markets,
in data center virtualization, and so on. Unlike the old DEC days, where
marketing overcame technical superiority, we're finally at a point where
Linux is too stinking useful and adaptable to not find wider adoption. And
most of that was driven by hackers working on non-desktop-related
functionality.

Which is why I believe the key to continuing or expanding that momentum
means we need to bring in a new generation of *hackers*, not *users*.

> I write wiki based docs for an open software web app. When I speak of
> documentation I am not limiting my refernce to a readme or file
> headnotes, but the task is daunting as the target is ever moving and
> so many find it easier to demand that I provide a private recitation ;)

I certainly don't envy you. I haven't written a doc myself that didn't
quickly require a hundred modifications.

> If the focus here is to engender RTRAkLinux, then maybe you want to
> adopt an image, create static docs to support same, etc. If the
> purpose is to simply increase Linux users, go for the kids. If the
> purpose is to promote rational exploration and use of an open OS, then
> perhaps .......

Which is where the group's name has become something of a misnomer. AKLUG
started in a period where the only users were basically hackers, and was
intended to spread more love of tinkering on this platform. If we're going
to become dogmatic literalists, then truly the focus of this group has
changed such that the original membership and impetus is all but forgotten.

         --Arthur Corliss
           Live Free or Die
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Received on Wed Sep 16 16:17:22 2009